Rear Foot Leveling Shaft Layout for Easy Appliance Height Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances require cumbersome and costly height adjustment methods, involving separate shafts for each rear foot, which are cumbersome to operate and increase manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A household appliance with a main shaft connected to a transmission unit that rotates a pair of rear feet, allowing for simultaneous height adjustment of both feet in opposite or same directions, reducing the need for separate shafts and enhancing user convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate shafts are used for each rear foot, then height adjustment is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate shafts into a single integrated shaft that extends across the width of the cabinet. This main shaft has connection points for both rear feet, allowing one shaft to perform the function previously requiring two separate shafts, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining height adjustment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The single main shaft serves multiple functions: it supports both rear feet, enables height adjustment for both feet simultaneously, and provides a unified rotation axis. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate shafts and reduces overall system complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate shafts are used for each rear foot, then individual height adjustment is possible, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging two separate shafts into one main shaft with connection points for both rear feet, the patent reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and inventoried. This single shaft design maintains full height adjustment capability while significantly reducing manufacturing cost
3Ease of operation
If the user pushes and pulls the appliance to adjust height, then height adjustment is achieved, but loss of time and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the appliance to self-level by providing a mechanism where the main shaft can be rotated to automatically adjust the height of both rear feet. The transmission unit with idler gears allows the feet to move independently in opposite directions, enabling the appliance to adapt to uneven ground without requiring the user to physically push and pull it
4Adaptability or versatility
If the main shaft is fixed in position, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different ground conditions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the main shaft dynamic by allowing it to move along its own axis (pushed-in and pulled-out positions). This dynamic positioning, combined with the transmission unit that can engage different gear configurations, enables the system to adapt to various ground conditions by changing the operational mode rather than requiring multiple fixed shafts
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising; a body and a pair of rear foot rotatably coupled to a lower surface of the body to adjust the height of the body via a pair shafts (2). A main shaft (3) is connected to the pair of shafts (2) via a transmission unit (4) wherein the main shaft (3) is configured to rotate the pair of shafts (2) upon bein rotated.